In this project you can transform your computer into a Synthesia-like OS (or a arcade-keyboard). You can also run the script (the file I attached) without doing all these steps, but if you want to make a computer just for Synthesia, here is what you can do.
> This makes it possible to hook it up to your TV so you have a bigger screen to play along with.
You won't be needing a monitor (if using a PC. If using a laptop, use its video-out (usually VGA, DVI or HDMI)) to connect to, just find a port you can connect your laptop to. You can then mount the TV/monitor above your keyboard. How nice is that?
Note This is probably the most advanced way to do this but you can more or less do the same to put a shortcut to Synthesia.exe in your "Startup" folder in the Start menu. Doing only this will require logging in, and the desktop been seen and it requiers more user input. If you want to take some more effort, continue reading.
You'll need:
- A PC. It is also possible with a laptop, but this will be a bit more hard unless you skip some steps.
- Internet connection (for updating and stuff)
- Your computer should have a AGP card
- AHK Installer (Download)
Optional:
- A PCI card (The cheapest you can find, it doesn't even need to work. I'll come to this later)
Note These instructions are "as is" and I am not responsible for any damage you harm to your computer; be careful.
Step 1: Getting rid of the manufacturer's bootscreen
If you have a laptop or have no (proper) knowledge of how to operate the BIOS or how your computer is set up, skip this step.
Open up your computer and plug in the PCI card. Keep the monitor plugged to the AGP card. Turn on computer and go to the BIOS screen. See if you can find the Video Settings, in there set videocard to "PCI". Save settings and restart computer. This will route the bootscreen to the PCI card, but no monitor is connected there. So that means that the monitor (connected to the AGP-card) will be seen as secondary monitor thus you'll see nothing untill Windows starts.
Step 2: Getting rid of Windows' bootscreen
This should be quite easy. There are many programs that do this, here are I name a few:
Windows XP: Boot Editor
Windows Vista: Boot Logo Generator (click "Nu Downloaden!")
Windows 7: Boot Updater
Make a nice picture you'd like to see your computer boot with.
Step 3: Hide Windows' GUI elements
Remove pop-up balloons:
1. Press [Win]+[R] and type regedit and then press [Enter]
2. Navigate to the following subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Right-click the right pane, create a new DWORD value, and then name it EnableBalloonTips
4. Double-click this new entry, and then give it a hexadecimal value of 0 and click OK
5. Quit Registry Editor. Log off Windows, and then log back on
These steps disable all Notification Area balloon tips for the active user. There is no way to disable balloon tips for Synthesia only
6. Disable all the programs that start with Synthesia and may pop-up or slow the system down or affect it in any way. These may be in your Startup folder (I'll come later to that)
Get rid of "Loading Settings" screen in Windows XP
1. Press [Win]+[R] and type regedit and then press [Enter]
2. Navigate to the following entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
If there is an entry for "DisableStatusMessages" set it to 1 (the digit one)
If there is no entry, rightclick the "System" word, and select New > DWORD value, and enter "DisableStatusMessages", rightclick to edit the value of it, and enter 1 (the digit one).
Hide Startmenu
1. Rightclick Startmenu > Properties
2. Enable automatically hiding > OK
Boot directly into Synthesia
1. Turn off Login Screen so it will go to one account only
2. Don't give up a password. Doing so will Windows cause to halt logging in 'till you've given a password
3. Download and install AutoHotkey (Download link near beginning of my post)
4. This is where my script comes in. Download here: Open Start > All Programs > Startup (it's a folder)
Unpack the AutoHotkeyfile and place it in there.
Get a Synthesia-look
1. Remove all shortcuts of desktop and place them somewhere else e.g. C:\DesktopStuff
2. Turn off screensaver
3. Get a Synthesia-background
Step 4: Restart computer and connect TV/monitor; place it on keyboard/behind the keyboard/mounted on the wall
More information
Hiding Windows
AutoHotkey
Source script